Manager, Procurement & Strategic Vendor Management

Dentons•Chicago, IL

1d•$120,000 - $145,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Dentons US LLP is currently recruiting for a Procurement & Strategic Vendor Management (SVM) Manager. Chicago is the preferred location; however, strong candidates in other locations will also be considered. This position works with all vendors to ensure that proper set up and purchasing policies are implemented throughout the Firm; to negotiate favorable contracts for the Firm on all key vendor relationships; manage the Firm's relationships with internal and external resources as it relates to the vendor set up and maintenance process, and partner with our vendors to ensure good relations from a financial and operational perspective. This position reports to the Senior Director, Financial Programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
8+ years progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, vendor management, finance operations, or a related field, including experience negotiating complex service and technology agreements
Experience within a law firm, professional services organization, or other matrixed enterprise environment strongly preferred
Proficiency in all discipline areas: Accounts Payable, Finance, Vendor Relations
Fluency in complex issue resolution and decision making skills, including effective interactions with Firm counsel relating to protecting the Firm’s position in negotiations and other vendor compliance issues
Negotiations and influencing skills
Excellent communication, relationship building and interpersonal skills
Proficient in excel, knowledge of Access
Knowledge of and proficiency with appropriate AI tools to enhance efficiency and performance

Responsibilities

Develop, lead and execute procurement strategies
Provide broad direction and delegate objectives for multiple SVM and procurement disciplines
Perform all procurement and contracting activities including pre-qualification, negotiation and preparation of contracts working with assigned lead team
Assist in managing transitional career and learning opportunities for SVM and Procurement team
Drive best purchasing practices across Dentons US departments while leveraging best business processes to achieve measurable invoice routing
Analyze firmwide spending data to identify consolidation opportunities, cost savings, standardization opportunities, and supplier risk
Develop and report procurement KPIs, including cost savings, cost avoidance, contract compliance, supplier performance, procurement cycle time, and risk mitigation metrics
Direct end-to-end RFI and RFP assessment processes, collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to define requirements, evaluate proposals, and establish vendor rankings
Lead negotiation of master service agreements, statements of work, licensing agreements, and purchasing contracts
Manage vendor life cycle: on-boarding through off-boarding
Identify opportunities beyond current scope of work to improve process flow
Drive seamless purchasing process and efficiencies through process
Develop key relationships with business stakeholders and strategic supply partners to strengthen the Firm’s standing
Manage all key contracts tracked in the Contract Management System for renewals to ensure there are no lapsed contracts and renewals are negotiated to obtain best price and services
Develop, manage and execute all key vendor relationships and contracts, negotiate favorable pricing
Oversee supplier onboarding, performance monitoring, contract compliance, and renewal management.
Analyze vendor activity, research "Best in Class" vendors to provide needed sourcing and recommend key vendor relationships
Conduct business review meetings with key stakeholders to assess risk, review future strategies and identify potential savings and improvements
Provide quarterly reviews for management on purchasing savings, risk assessments
Collaborate with global procurement team members when Dentons US is included in global contracts and/or other requests for proposals
Identify opportunities to streamline procurement workflows and improve purchasing efficiency
Implement and manage procurement technologies, contract repositories, supplier databases, and reporting tools
Develop dashboards and reporting capabilities providing visibility into spending patterns, supplier performance, and savings results
Maintain real time awareness of vendor performance, deadline management for supplier and contract renewal opportunities, and maintain and enhance the Firm’s vendor experience wherever possible
Champion continuous improvement initiatives across the procurement lifecycle
Other duties as needed to fully meet the requirements of the role